Kalev Cramo Tallinn registered its first win in the 2013-14 Eurocup by edging Banvit Bandirma 75-72 in Group G in the Estonian capital on Wednesday. Kalev improved to 1-5 in Group G and grabbed its first Eurocup win since November 27, 2007, breaking an 11-game losing streak in the competition. Banvit dropped to 3-3 and now ties for third place with VEF Riga. Tanel Sokk paced the winners with 15 points. Vlad Moldoveanu and Frank Elegar each added 11 for Kalev. E.J. Rowland led Banvit with 20 points. Sammy Mejia added 17 while Ermal Kuqo had 11 for the guests, which led 42-44 right after the break. Moldoveanu and an outstanding Bamba Fall helped Kalev get its biggest lead, 60-49, at the end of the third quarter. Kalev still led 68-60 with under 6 minutes to go but Rowland, Kuqo and Chuck Davis brought Banvit as close as 73-72 with 20 seconds to go. Rain Veiderman made free throws and Rowland missed from downtown seconds before the buzzer.
Mejia and Dusan Cantekin shined early to give Banvit a 2-6 lead. Elegar and Armands Skele stepped up for Kalev and a three-pointer by Devin Gibson kept the hosts within 9-10. Elegar and Skele combined for all points in a 6-0 Kalev run that gave their team their first lead, 15-13. Mejia stepped up to make Banvit tie the game, 17-17, after 10 minutes. A put-back dunk by Drew Gordon and a layup by Kuqo restored a 19-21 Banvit edge early in the second quarter. Three-pointers by Sokk and Veideman made Kalev regain the lead, 29-25, soon after that. Kuqo and Rowland stepped up for Banvit and a layup by Mejia gave the guests a 35-36 edge. A jumper by Gibson and a triple by Indrek Kajupank put Kalev back ahead, 40-38, at halftime. Mejia, Rowland and Davis made Banvit get a 42-44 edge after the break. Fall, Skele and Kajupank stepped up to give Kalev a 49-45 lead right after that. Moldoveanu and Fall soon made it a double-digit game, 60-49, at the end of the third quarter. Banvit improved its defense early in the fourth quarter and a 2-9 run which Mejia capped with a jumper brought the guests as close as 62-58. Moldoveanu sank free throws and back-to-back baskets by Sook gave Kalev fresh air, 68-60, with under 6 minutes left. Rowland, Kuqo and Davis managed to bring Banvit back in the game, 70-68, with under 3 minutes to go. A layup by Davis made it a one-point game, 73-72, with 20 seconds left. Veideman made free throws and Rowland missed from downtown almost at the buzzer.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Eurocupbasketball.com